BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, Wash. — Bainbridge Island residents Denise Stoughton and Stephanie Reese created the Asian Arts and Heritage Festival to honor the island's rich cultural history.
"I'm part Japanese, part Filipino, part Chinese," Reese said.
"She is the festival," exclaimed Stoughton, a board member for Arts and Humanities Bainbridge.
"I am the festival!" Reese agreed, acknowledging the cross-cultural nature of the event. "And the more I learned about the island and the rich Asian culture here, the more I questioned: Why is there no Asian festival or celebration that's inclusive of all of this rich culture and history?"
Throughout May, islanders will come together to highlight those cultural traditions, from food, to art, to music.
"We have the Moonlight Market here on Bainbridge Island," Stoughton explained, and added that the festival will have a presense there this Friday, May 3.
There are several other events later in the month.
"A Japanese Heritage Night, where we'll be celebrating some local Japanese authors," Stoughton said, "And then we have another evening at Bainbridge Performing Arts, where we'll be showing the Indipino film 'Honor Thy Mother.'"
Reese added, "Gina Corpuz's film about her mother and the mothers and the indigenous women who came here and married Filipino farmers."
Reese, an accomplished international performer, will sing Filipino songs following the screening.
On May 18 festival participants will get the chance to practice Shinrin Yoku, the meditative Japanese art of forest bathing.
"Celebrate everything Asian," Stoughton said.
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